Monday, August 17, 2009

Pollination for the Nation...

i'm sure someone else has come up with that slogan.. but during the Zucchini season "ain't that the truth" hand pollination is required when there isn't a lot of plants.. this year i only planted two of them... Mistake!!! They've only produced female flowers for weeks now, i've even had to 'borrow' male flowers from my garden buddy and lately i've had a couple of male squash flowers that i've used in the hopes that it would pollinate the female Zucchini... note for next year.. plant at least three zucchini plants!!

The Fennel (Herb variety, not bulb one) is a delicious dinner for this rather large Swallowtail larva...

today's batch of tomatoes from the garden..

my one lonely Scarlet Runner bean... there are some very tiny ones just setting now.. not sure why the poor production but at least they're starting to produce!! the vine has started to really grow.. right into my Leek flower...

great photos, i will be doing the same as you with the plums in a month, i am going to do your bbq sauce idea - i add halapenos and have plum dipping sauce - one year we didn't get many tomatoes i made all my Italian spagetti sauce with plums and no one knew the difference, thank God for my awesome herbs - had a great visit, peace for all

thank you Mr. H and Ruralrose.. and ditto to you both!! Mr. H ..12 zucchini plants i can't quite imagine the amount of zucchini u must have!!! Ruralrose, the bbq sauce was supposed to be a ketchup but i added a bit of molasses.. oopsy.. but since i use molasses in my own bbq sauce, it just ended up that way... never thought of using plums for spagetti sauce.. good idea!! and thanks to you both for commenting.. so nice to get feedback :D cheers

A message from your sponsor... (ahem) not really......

but a message from my heart... if from this blog, only one person garners information and utilizes it in their lives, then i've accomplished what i wished....in our rush to become 'high tech' we as a society are losing our ability to be self sufficient or at least 'practical' and somewhat independent souls... nothing is more satisfying than eating a fresh tomato off the vine, or gathering an egg from a chicken that you've tended from chickhood or even inhaling the deep earthy scents after a warm summer rain..... enjoy